...Mary Carillo is a GENIUS....
Get out of town, a brilliant journalist. Often times "brilliant journalist" falls under the term "oxymoron". This is one such time.
During a recent prime time broadcast of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, Mary was in conversation with either Al Michaels or Bob Costas. According to Mary, "90% of Canadians live between our border and theirs." REALLY??? And the other 10% are what? Ex-pats living in a remote mountain village in Nepal?
I realize she meant to say that 90% of Canadians live within close proximity to the US Border. However, I had this mental map image of the borders with dots for all the Canadians living in Canada and10% hovering over Iceland.
I'm certain she didn't mean to sound like an idiot. It's ok Mary, I have learned to speak "stupid" and was able to translate.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Welcome to 2010
Ahhh my first post of the new year. Whoohoo! Somewhere in the morass of 2009, I lost my creative juices. Perhaps it was drained around the same time I began losing my mind. Seriously though, this year has to be better than the last.
I'm scaling back and exercising self-discipline. What a challenge. First, I'm back in church. REGULARLY. I took almost six months off and came back to a sermon entitled "Every Day With Jesus"...can you say "ouch" for the slap upside the head I received. I haven't quite figured out how the ministers know exactly what to say (translation...what I need to hear).
I am reading the daily devotionals, I'm reading my chronological bible. I am thinking about getting plugged in, but have reservations. Again with the "single" dilemma. Don't have kids, don't have a spouse....blech. But I'm sure I'll find something.
I'm making some serious changes to eating and exercise habits. I'm taking control of my health, something I should have done years ago, but it's better late than never. Besides, I don't want to have to deal with the pending doom of government health care. It costs more and covers less.
I've halved my guitar lessons. Tragic. But it's too difficult when working full time, having a life and other interests, to make a weekly session. However, since I adore my instructor, I couldn't bear to leave him, so I am taking lessons every other week. He made me a very happy girl by tabbing out some small portions to "Die Hard The Hunter" and "Fade to Black" so I can dabble with it. I see an electric guitar in my near future. Trust me when I say these don't have the same impact on a classical guitar.
I am "Dave Ramsey"ing myself. There will be a huge garage sale this spring at Casa de Indie. A chore I do not relish; however, it must be done. I am currently spring cleaning and decluttering. I still haven't figured out how one person can gather so much STUFF.
I am also contemplating a career change. Still don't know what it is I want to be when I grow up, but it's not this.
So, there are my first 14 days of 2010 in a nutshell.
I'm scaling back and exercising self-discipline. What a challenge. First, I'm back in church. REGULARLY. I took almost six months off and came back to a sermon entitled "Every Day With Jesus"...can you say "ouch" for the slap upside the head I received. I haven't quite figured out how the ministers know exactly what to say (translation...what I need to hear).
I am reading the daily devotionals, I'm reading my chronological bible. I am thinking about getting plugged in, but have reservations. Again with the "single" dilemma. Don't have kids, don't have a spouse....blech. But I'm sure I'll find something.
I'm making some serious changes to eating and exercise habits. I'm taking control of my health, something I should have done years ago, but it's better late than never. Besides, I don't want to have to deal with the pending doom of government health care. It costs more and covers less.
I've halved my guitar lessons. Tragic. But it's too difficult when working full time, having a life and other interests, to make a weekly session. However, since I adore my instructor, I couldn't bear to leave him, so I am taking lessons every other week. He made me a very happy girl by tabbing out some small portions to "Die Hard The Hunter" and "Fade to Black" so I can dabble with it. I see an electric guitar in my near future. Trust me when I say these don't have the same impact on a classical guitar.
I am "Dave Ramsey"ing myself. There will be a huge garage sale this spring at Casa de Indie. A chore I do not relish; however, it must be done. I am currently spring cleaning and decluttering. I still haven't figured out how one person can gather so much STUFF.
I am also contemplating a career change. Still don't know what it is I want to be when I grow up, but it's not this.
So, there are my first 14 days of 2010 in a nutshell.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
It's Not Always As It Seems
What would you expect if you heard screaming riffs being played on these guitars by guys in black leather pants, sporting rocker hair cuts?
Kellie Pickler was the second act. Some of you might remember Kellie from American Idol. She has had moderate success in her singing career. Unfortunately, her voice is not suited to an arena. Or should I say the sound engineer just couldn't get it right. She has a higher pitched voice and her mike was up too high. It was a particularly painful experience. Combined with shrieking girls...I believe I've lost my hearing.
I can't believe I am admitting this, but Taylor Swift, at 19, is a consummate performer. Costume changes, humor, and a humblness belies her tender years. At one point, I really though she was going to burst into tear from the adulation she was receiving from the crowd. Her music, while young, is infectious. And there are a couple of tunes that I do like. So all in all, I have to give Taylor an A for her first headlining show. She's got a bright future. I hope she retains her "sweetness" as her career continues.
Perhaps a little headbanging heaven? A touch of metal mania? A precursor to this year's Freaker's Ball? Why, yes, Indie, if I am following stereotype, I can see all of those things.
Ladies and gentlemen, behold some of the axes belonging to the members of Taylor Swift's band.
Yes, this Taylor Swift...
As a woman of a certain age, I can say that I haven't been 19 year old Taylor's biggest fan. She writes cutsey ditties about teenaged heartbreak. Seriously? At 19, you've barely scratched the surface of life. Anyway, one of my good friends invited me to the concert. While not dreading it, mostly because I would get to see my friend, I was not exactly enthused. I really didn't relish sitting amonst screaming female tweens in a sold out show. Face it, we girls shriek. LOUDLY.
Gloriana opened the show at 7:30. Great 4 part harmony. Hopefully, they have a bright future ahead of them.
Kellie Pickler was the second act. Some of you might remember Kellie from American Idol. She has had moderate success in her singing career. Unfortunately, her voice is not suited to an arena. Or should I say the sound engineer just couldn't get it right. She has a higher pitched voice and her mike was up too high. It was a particularly painful experience. Combined with shrieking girls...I believe I've lost my hearing.
Finally, young Miss Swift took the stage shortly after 9:00 PM. Let me add here, that I made some earplugs from napkins to save my eardrums from the assault of shrieks and screams that ensued.
I can't believe I am admitting this, but Taylor Swift, at 19, is a consummate performer. Costume changes, humor, and a humblness belies her tender years. At one point, I really though she was going to burst into tear from the adulation she was receiving from the crowd. Her music, while young, is infectious. And there are a couple of tunes that I do like. So all in all, I have to give Taylor an A for her first headlining show. She's got a bright future. I hope she retains her "sweetness" as her career continues.
Somehow I must get "You Belong With Me" out of my head.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
8 Very Good Reasons to Watch AVP Pro Beach Volleyball
Reasons 1-8: Sean Scott's 8 Pack...enough said!
After a protracted absence from viewing the sport, I have been watching again. Thanks KP :-)
I've been a fan of Pro Beach Volleyball going back to the team of Sinjin Smith and Randy Stoklos. I wanted to name my first born son "Sinjin" back in the day because it was such a cool name. However times have changed...oh how they have changed.
Now, I root for the abs....ok, I really don't care who wins the match. I just want to see the abs.
Sorry readers, this is my moment of completely shallow, insipid, ridiculousness...seriously though, will you look at those abs....
After a protracted absence from viewing the sport, I have been watching again. Thanks KP :-)
I've been a fan of Pro Beach Volleyball going back to the team of Sinjin Smith and Randy Stoklos. I wanted to name my first born son "Sinjin" back in the day because it was such a cool name. However times have changed...oh how they have changed.
Now, I root for the abs....ok, I really don't care who wins the match. I just want to see the abs.
Sorry readers, this is my moment of completely shallow, insipid, ridiculousness...seriously though, will you look at those abs....
Friday, July 03, 2009
A Moral Compass for the Directionally Challenged
Do atheists have a moral compass? If so, what is guiding them to choose right over wrong? I ask because of something that has recently happened.
What gives an atheist the direction for their lives? There is no higher power to which they answer; only themselves. So do they inherently recognize and choose to do what is moral and correct? If they have no sense of God, does making a poor choice become okay?
An atheist (or Christian) is confronted with a situation which could be handled two ways: 1. Come forward, acknowledge the issue and work to resolve it. 2. Cover up the situation, which snowballs out of control, and continue the deception.
If option 2 is chosen, the atheist has no recourse for grace or forgiveness. Or does that even matter to them? Perhaps they move through life thinking "oh well, it's no big deal" regardless of whom they hurt.
As a Christian, I know that my faith enhances my moral compass. By that faith, I am driven to live a more Christ-like life. So I am bound by an innate sense of right and wrong; and more importantly, a sense of accountability. I also know that if I do choose a path that is wrong, I can repent and ask to be forgiven and it will be granted. That's the beauty of grace under which Christians live.
But back to the atheist....what drives his/her sense of accountability? What does he/she believe in other than him/herself? I would only have myself to blame. And wouldn't that be a rather miserable way to live?
What gives an atheist the direction for their lives? There is no higher power to which they answer; only themselves. So do they inherently recognize and choose to do what is moral and correct? If they have no sense of God, does making a poor choice become okay?
An atheist (or Christian) is confronted with a situation which could be handled two ways: 1. Come forward, acknowledge the issue and work to resolve it. 2. Cover up the situation, which snowballs out of control, and continue the deception.
If option 2 is chosen, the atheist has no recourse for grace or forgiveness. Or does that even matter to them? Perhaps they move through life thinking "oh well, it's no big deal" regardless of whom they hurt.
As a Christian, I know that my faith enhances my moral compass. By that faith, I am driven to live a more Christ-like life. So I am bound by an innate sense of right and wrong; and more importantly, a sense of accountability. I also know that if I do choose a path that is wrong, I can repent and ask to be forgiven and it will be granted. That's the beauty of grace under which Christians live.
But back to the atheist....what drives his/her sense of accountability? What does he/she believe in other than him/herself? I would only have myself to blame. And wouldn't that be a rather miserable way to live?
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